MADE FOR EACH OTHER
Chapter 23

ARMAAN'S POV:

I lifted up her veil slowly. I wasn't nervous but I was excited to see her. I lifted the veil making her face visible she was crying why was she crying. Her eyes slowly lifted up looking at me. Those eyes held tons o emotions but one which was the most visible was that which I was scared of. Regret.

Shit what I did. Did I made any mistake. I really like her. But you made her force into this marriage. But she agreed yes but she was left with no option. Do she really like arham and regret being with me. I must. Ya Allah. I have committed a sin.

Her eyes were still holding me to them. Those eyes lack happiness.

"Guy's. You can continue the starring later." Some said from the ladies. They must be her friends or relatives.

I turned to dua, she was smiling not a genuine one. A fake one.

Soon all the ladies left to the Shah's mansion while all the Male waited in the mosque to offer salah.

I cried in my dua. I asked for forgiveness to Allah. 'I am hurting people Allah. I ask for forgiveness. But Allah you are Al-Qadar. Please settle things between me and dua. Please.'

The phone in my pocket vibrated. I got up. Still people were Congratulating me.

I took out my phone to check. There were many messages but one was from dua. I quickly opened it.

*****

Dua:

I hate you. I don't like you. I am doing this because my baba forced me too. I always liked arham.

*****

What. Yes indeed I made a mistake. What am I gonna do now. Ya Allah. A tear rolled down my cheek as sat in the car. I hate this day. What do you thought she had feeling for you. You wanted to get rid of her sister and wanted her. But did you ever thought about her. Her feelings. Her respect. Her emotions. No you didn't. And the consequences are here in front of you.

Soon we reached our destination. I wasn't really happy about this day at all.

I was welcomed in. All the men were sitting in the hall. We all were chatting among ourselves. I was felling broken from inside but I was pretending to be fine from outside.

Soon the lunch was served out. I sat beside shahid and humayu mamu. The lunch was good but it didn't mattered to me at that much. How am I gonna face her. I am such an cruel man.

It was asar all men came back from masjid. And were sitting in the lawn. As tea was being served.

"Armaan it's time to leave." Abba said to me. I nodded at him.

Relatives from dua's family greeted me as we were about to leave. Mr.shah hugged me. I didn't see him crying. But I am damn sure he felt sad. He must be. After all we all toyed dua as per our choice. Dua came down slowly climbing down the stairs with shahida and ammi beside her. She looked so beautiful in her white saree. She looks so perfect in her saree. It perfectly hugged her figure. She was smiling but had tears in her eyes. She was hugging all the relatives. There weren't much. Mr.shah was the last no doubt she was feeling awkward with her father. My poor dua.

She kept her forehead on mr.shah's arm for few seconds and straightened up.

Ammi made her stood beside me. And we exited together. I opened the car door for her she sat. Ammi helped her with her red dupatta. I went to other side of the car and sat in.

Thankfully no one

companied us in the car. I nodded at the driver and the car began to drive softly.

Dua was softly crying beside me. I wanted to help her but I couldn't. I was feeling ashamed for what I did.

I passed her few tissue from the car. She looked at my hand and then at me. I was having a close look at her face. There was no mascara smudges. Nothing. Only her fair skin turned red due crying too much. loved her natural blush. It took a while to reach home.

When we wanted to enter all my cousin sister stepped in front of the door. Asking for money. I knew this was gonna happen. I gave them the amount of money they asked for.

Me and dua were made to seat in the middle of hall on the couch where people came greeted us. It was tiring. Dua was taken in a room. I was didn't. I was tired too. Soon it was time for majrib, all men made there way to the mosque.

I don't know why they aren't letting me see dua. I couldn't even ask them to. I know and remember about the message she sent but still I wanted to see her. I don't know I was craving to see her. Just to see her

I was sitting on the couch listening to chachu(uncle) who was saying about marriage stuff that how one should treat his wife. And always bring her something or anything when ever you leave the town. Suddenly shahida out of no where came and pulled me up with arm. She was dragging me.

"Shahida what's wrong. Why are dragging me with you." I asked her but she didn't even listen it. I came to hall where all the women's were sitting. But dragged to the dinning hall.

Dua was sitting there. Glad that she didn't changed her saree.

Shahida made me sit beside her.

"Challo. Challo. (come on) Ammi (mom) bring the dinner." Shahida yelled.

Mammi(armaan's aunt) came with a plate filled with biryani.

"Shahida what's wrong. You could have.." I asked but stopped when salina my cousin sister started recording a video on her phone.

"Offo bhai. Everyone had dinner. Now. Feed bhabhi. You'll eat from same plate. Salina record it properly. Specially bhai's face." Shahida yelled.

No. She ain't my favorite cousin now. Not any more.

"shahi di what about this we make dua bhabhi sit on bhaijaan's lap, what say." Said salina. I glared angrily at her. Are they for real.

"What do you say bhai." Shahida was asking.

I didn't said anything and got up from the chair.

"Okay. Okay. We were just pulling your leg. Please sit." Shahida said. I sat down back dramatically.

okay here are the spoons." Shahida said with two spoons in her hand. I took them both and passed one to dua. Everyone in the room went howling.

I rolled my eyes at them.

"Okay. Bhai you go first." Shahida said.

I did what she said but stopped.

"Why are you recording it. Though." I asked pointing the spoon at salina.

"bhai your such a spoiler. See bhabhi hadn't eat anything since lunch. She's so hungry. Feed her bhai. Come on." She said. I am gonna get there back later for this.

I turned with a spoon full of rice towards dua. She hesitated but then opened her mouth and eat it. Good. Watching her eat is oddly satisfying.

"Very good. Bhabhi your turn now. Feed bhai." Shahida said.

Dua was being shy. Nothing like when she met first. My nose still hurts. You know.

Finally a spoon appeared in front of me but she wasn't looking at me. I holded the spoon along with her and feed myself.

Again audience was howling. What are they human or wolf's.

And then. Dua and me had to eat together but no feeding each other this time.

After that I was kicked out of the place. I went to the hall I so badly wanted to rest. Everyone was having dinner in the hall. I rescued my self and went to terrace. Not much people where there just kids playing. With balloons. And their mom running behind them to feed them.

I made a way back. Which is usually quite. I fished for my phone. I saw the message by dua.

I hate you. I don't like you. I am doing this because my baba forced me too. I always liked arham.

I was reading it again and again. Wishing that the words might get changed. But they didn't.

Does she really hate me. What if she's just trying to get me mad. Or what if she's testing me or something. I didn't like it. What about this I say her that I like her. I'll confess. Then I'll let her think about it. But she likes arham. But arham likes ayesha. He won't leave ayesha from his mind. I know that for sure. What if you tell her the truth why you actually did she would agree and wouldn't hate you anymore. But will that make her like me. I don't think so. I must do what.

My phone was vibrating. I looked at it was from UK. I took a breath and picked it up.

"Armaan bhai. Armaan bhai." I heard shahid.

"Over here." I said.

"Armaan bhai. I've been searching for you every where. Come down." He said.

"Why?" I plainly asked him. I wasn't in a good mood.

"What do mean why. Bhai it's your first night after wedding. Bhabhi is waiting for you down." He said.

"As if." I said with a mocking laugh.

"What did you say." Shahid asked.

"Nothing." I said.

"Then let's go na bhai." Shahid said and began pulling me out.

I was standing in front of my room. But all my cousin were in front too.

During wedding cousin's can be money eating machines.

"Okay bhai. We don't want the bargain much just give as 20$" Shahida said.

"20$ for what reason miss." I asked.

"Off. O. Bhai. Cut the argument and give us the money. After all we have decorated the room for you and bhabhi is waiting right inside for you." Shahida said.

"Yes bhai are you gonna make her wait for long." Salina said.

"Bhai throw the money on there faces and then they'll get lost." Shahid who stood beside me said.

"On whose side are you Shahid." I asked Shahid folding my hands in front of my chest.

"What are you saying bhai. I am on yours side only. Bhai." He said like he was caught red handed.

"Hey ladies why are you bothering my son. Let him go. I'll give the money." Ammi came for my rescue.

"No badi ammi we don't want your money. We want bhai's money only." Salina yelled.

"Fine. Bit just 10$. Not more." I said.

"But bhai. We had decided 20$ but." Shahida said.

"You know. You guy's enjoy. I don't need anyone's permission to enter my room." I said and pushed both of them from front of the door.

"Bhai. Bhai.bhai. 10$ is okay." Shahida said.

I gave them the money. They were waiting for me to enter.

I entered and turn they were still here.

I gave them. What-now-just leave-me-alone look.

I shut the door on there faces. What an circus family I have.

I turned she was there. Sitting in the middle of the bed. With a veil pulled down upto her face. As much as like that I must apologize first.

I came and took a place in front of her. I can do this.

"Dua" I said but I turned not facing her.

"I am sorry. I am a stupid person. I know. I made you force on this. I know you didn't wanted to. I know you hate me. But I understand how it feels when you don't want to marry someone and you are left with no choice." I said but suddenly it all went involuntary.

"I know when you like someone but you could be with that person. You are forced to be with someone else. You might look happy outside but deep down you know you are faking. A part that person will always

be within you. Though how much badly you want to forget about it but you could not. You just can't. I you know what hurts you more that even if life would give you a chance. You couldn't do what you want." I was feeling so hollow. I didn't spoke about it to anyone. But speaking it out feel good.

"Do you like someone." A heard her say in the silence.

I nodded. "Yes. I use too." I said.

"Use to." She asked.

"Yes. I used to but I never got a chance to met her or say what I wanted to." I said. I turned to look at her face but the veil was between it.

"I know I did so wrong with you. I mean. " I was cut by her.

"Then why did you asked me get marry. Because you're parents forced to." She said. What's wrong with her now.

Shit. Shit. Shit. What did I do. Crap.

"You. I hate you even more now." I looked down at my feet. I felt her moving I looked up the veil was gone.

"You scrum. Are you mad. You are out of your senses. You like someone and all these time you pretend that you are into me." She was shaking with anger. Is she jealous but she like arham then why is she getting mad at me.

"You. I feel like killing you right in front. right now." She said. The rubbed her face with both her hands.

"Ya Allah." She said.

"But you..." I said.

"Shut up. Shut up. You say a word and I'll cut that tongue of you." She said. She is in a mad mood.

"Calm down dua. Calm down" she said to herself. Took three deep breaths and said. "So. Your saying that you like someone else." She said and I nodded.

"So does you." I said.

"What? What I are you saying." She said.

"Don't act. You texted me." I searched for my phone and showed it to her. She looked throughly to it and was deeply thinking about it.

"I didn't send the text. I lost my phone since yesterday." She said.

What the hell. I am messed up.

"I am sorry. I thought you sent it. I got so furious and angry. When I read that you like arham and more that you hated me. I am sorry." I said.

"It's okay. That's not what's important." She said.

"Then what is?" I asked confused.

"You like someone else armaan. Don't deny. You talked about it like you were in deeply love with her. While the lady sitting in front of you is your wife. And on the first day itself you confess feeling for someone else in front of her."

I know I messed up badly. I just know. I feel so sick. So bad really. But I like her. It's true that since the wedding date was declared she was the thing that was always in my mind. I even forget about her when I

am with dua. I...

"Sleep on the couch" she said pointing towards the couch in the room.

Fine. But no.

I took everything and went towards the couch.